Flexible tube



L; H. BRINKMAN.

FLEXIBLE TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- H. l9l6.

1,340,818. Patenwd May1s,192o.

44! ZSHEETS-SHEET 2'.

UNITED STATES PATET orrron.

LOUIS H. BRINKMAN, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TITfFIfFLEXMETAL HOSE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE Turn.l 4

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 18, 1920.

Application fiea septemter 11, 1916. serial no. 119,426.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis H. BRINKMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Glen `Ridge, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful :improvements in Flexible Tubes, ofwhich the 'following is a 'specification.

This invention relates to tubing having corrugations, the flexing of thetube being permitted by movement of the sides of the corrugations towardand away from each other. v

The main object of the present invention is to preventdamage to the tubeand prevent its undie distortion when subjected to heavy stresses.

Other' and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention,

Figure 1 is a view of' a hose or coupling embodying the invention,partially in section and broken away at .the center;

Figs. 2 and 3, are each a side elevation, partially in section of amodified form of hose;

Figs. 4 and 5, are elevations of still further modified forms ofcouplings, being partly in section;

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations with partial sections of still furthermodified forms of hose;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section of the hose shown in Fig. 1;

F igs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, are similarviews of the hose shownrespeotively in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7 Referring to the drawings, and-first to Figs. 1 and 8, a hose is therein shown asincluded in acoupling adapted for use in connecting pipes such, for instance, as airpipes, on adjacent cars of'a train, and for other uses. The terminals 1and 2 of the coupling are screw threaded as at 8' for attachment to thepipe ends. To each of the terminals 'is secured a corrugated flexibletube 3 by any suitable means as by screwing the end into the threads inthe 'terminal. This tube permits of flexure by relative movement of thesides of the corrugation 5 and 6. Preferably the corrugated tubeis'formed of a spirally wound strip or ribbonhaving the groove 7 formedlengthwise of the strip and adjacent edges of contiguous convolutionsbeing interfolded as shown at 8 ,to

form a fluid tight joint. Preferably this joint isat the outermostportion of the wall of the tube 3. The sides' 6 and 9 of the groove inthe strip are also here shown as lrefiexed with relation to the bottom10 of the groove and this is the preferred form,

but the sides may have other angular relations.

Outside the tube'3 is a tube 11. This is the outer tube and is for themechanical `fprot/ection of the inner' corrugated tube from danger fromexcessive distortion under great stress or from coming intocollisionwith foreign objects. This outside tube is shown as formed of spirallywound strip having adjacent edges of the convolutions interfolded asshown at 12. The joints 12 are not fixed, however, but are'provided withclearances as 13 and 14 Which permits the edges of adjacent convolutionsto slides with relation to each other so that lengthening or shorteningof the tube to a certain extent and also limited bending movement of thetube is permitted. The inner corrugated tube being tight, where it isdesired to transmit fiuid without leakage, it is not necessary that'theouter tube should also be tight. It is desirable, however, that itshould be mechanicallyt strong and the strip is therefore mechanicallyheavier and stronger in the outer tube than that of the inner tube.

To prevent rubbing or knocking of the inner and outer tubes together asuitable cushioning substance 15 as interposed between the inner andouter tubes. This substance may be a tape wound about the inner tubebefore it is inserted in the outer tube, or a tube of wicking or othertextile fabric might be placed about the inner tube. Other cushioningmeans might also be employed. The material should of course, however, beof such a nature that it wili not interfere with the flexing of thehose. The outer tube is secured in each of the-terminals 1 and 2 100 bymeans of set screws 16 and 17. In assemblingV the hose in the terminals,the outer tube is preferably fully extendedandthe inner tube is fullycompressed as shown.

Flexure of the hose is permitted by sliding 105' rugated tube is formedof a strip helically wound and having the edges.l of adjacentconvolutions interfolded as shown at 18. The strip is bent back uponitself at one point to form the hook 19 and at another. point to formthe flange 20. The flange 20 of one convolution enters within the hook19 of an adjacent convolution, there being normally clearances as 21 and22 between the flange and'the sides of the hook so that thesides of thecorrugations may move to and from each other. This movement is, however,limited by the flange coming against the sidesof the hook sothat thetube will be protected against undue distortion or damage by excessivebending or pulling upon the tube.

In Figs. 3 and 10 is shown a structure wherein a corrugated tube isformed by winding a ribbon or strip helically and securing-the edges ofadjacent convolutions together by interfolding as show at 23. The stripis formed with a corrugation having sides 24 and 25, a groove 26 beingformed at the apex of the corrugation. About the corrugated tube iswound a strip 27 having the flanges 28 and 29 which en- .terthe groove26 on adjacent corrugations.

F lexure of the tube, and extension or compression of it, is permittedby relative movement of thecorrugation sides, there being suitableclearances between the strip flanges at the edges of the groove as at 30and 31 and also between the strip flanges as at 32. VVhile thisarrangement permits the tube to beextended or bent to a certain degree,the

' engagement of the strip flanges as 28 and 29 with the sides ofthe'groove 26 limits this movement so that the tube is prevented frombeing unduly distorted by excessive bending action or pull. In Fig. 4 isshown a corrugated tube 33 secured in end terminals 34 and 35, this'portion of the structure being similar to the vcorrugated tube 3 andterminals 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. The terminals are, however, provided with'flanges 36, and 37, between I lwhich extend rods 38 and 39, havingtheir ends secured in the flanges. These bars may be flexible to acertain degree and while the tube may be bent it is secured againstexcessive longitudinal distortion by the rods 38 and 39 which resistlongitudinal tension tending to unduly distort the tube.

. In the structure shown in Fig. 5 a corrut gated'tube 40, which may besimilar to the tube 3 of Fig. 1 is similarly secured in ter- I 'minals41 and 42. Wound spirally around this tub in opposite directions arestrands as 43 and 44 having their ends secured to the 'terminals 41 and42 by lsoldering or otherwise. These strands `may be each a single stripof metal or formed of a number of threads of metal or may be of otherformation. They may be interwoven with each other as shown. Thisstructure percovering, being lengthened, is reduced n` diameter. Thereduction in diameter brings the covering against the inner corrugatedtubeso that its inward movement is limited, i the nner corrugated tubebeing peculiarly strong to resist radial pressure, this capacity forradial resistance being augmented by the reinforcement afforded by thequadruple thickness of material at the joint where adjacent edges of thespirally wound strip are interfolded.

It will be seen that the strands or strips 43 and 44 Which are spirallywound around the tube in opposite directions and secured to theterminals 41 and 42 will prevent twisting of the structure. This is animportant feature as the tube 40 is, more likely to be injured by forcestending to twist it than by those applied in other ways.

In the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 11 a corrugated tube is formedbyhelically winding a strip having a central longitudinal groove 44' and'having the edges of adjacent convolutions secured together by-interfolding as shown at 45. A wire 46 is wound' into the corrugationsupon the inside of the tube. Itwill be apparent that the wire thus woundWill be in the form of a helix. This should have sufiicient elasticityso that when the hose is bent the convolutions will be brought nearerupon one side and farther apart on the opposite side of the tube so thatthe sides of the corrugations may correspondingly move toward and awayfrom each other to permit the flexing. The Wire helix, however, offers agreatly increased resistance to excessive stress tending to undulyspread the corrugation so that distortion of the corrugated tube isprevented.4

In the structure shown in F igs. 7 and 12 a tube is shown which is likethat of Fig.

6 except that the wire 47 is wound upon' the outside of the tube betweenthe corrugations. The action is similar except that 'in elongatingv thewire helix becomes of less radius and consequently suitable clearance as48 is provided between the wire and the bottom of the groove in which itis wound.

While the inventionI has been illustrated in several' modifications, itmay have other embodiments 'without departing from its vspirit and isnot therefore limited to the structures shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim` as new and desire tosecure byr Letters Patent is I. The combination with 'a corrugatedl tubedepending for flexibility .upon the bendin of the metal to permit thecorrugation 'si es to move toward and away fromeach other; of a flexibletubular structure outside said tube and coupiing terminals secured tothe ends of said structure.

2. The combination with a corrugated tube depending for flexibility uponthe bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to move towardand away from eachother; of a fiexible tubular structure outside saidtube, and coupling terminals secured to the ends of said structure, saidtubular structure bridging across the groove between corrugations andnot entering therein, whereby engagement of the said structure againstthe corrugation sides as they move toward and away from each other'during fiexure of the tube is prevented.

'3. The combination with a corrugated tube depending vfor flexibilityupon the) bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward and away from each other, of a fiexible outer tube inclosing thesaid corrugated tube and comprising a helical strip having the edges ofadjacent convolutions joined together with clearances permittingrelative movement of-l the parts in the joint, the said outer tubebridging across the groove between corrugations and not enteringtherein, whereby. engagement of the said outer tube against thecorrugation sides asthey move toward and away from each other, as thetube is flexed, is prevented, and coupling terminals secured to the endsof said outer tube.

4. The combination with a corrugated tube comprising a helical strip,having a\ longitudinal groove `and having the edges of adjacentconvolutions interfolded in a fluid tight joint, the tube depending forflexibility upon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugationsides to move toward and away from each other, of a tubular structureoutside said tube and coupling terminals secu'red to the ends of saidstructure.

5. The combination with a corrugated tube comprising. a helical strip,having a longitudinal groove and having the edges of adjacentconvolutions interfolded in a fluid tight joint, the tube depending forflexibility upon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugationsides to move toward and away from each other, of a tubular structureoutside said tube and brdging across the groove between corrugations ofthe inner tube and not entering therein, whereby engagement of the saidstructure with the corrugations sides as they move toward and away fromeach other as the tube is flexed, is prevented.

j 6. The combmaton vwith a corrugated tube depending for flexibilityupon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward and away from each other, said tube comprising a helical 4striphaving edges of adjacent convolutions tube depending for fiexibilityupon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward and away from each other, said tube comprising a helical striphaving edges of adjacent convolutions inter-folded and said strip havinga longitudinal fold or groove, the said interfolded edges being at theoutermost portion of the wall of the tube, of a tubular structureenveloping said corrugated tube, said tubular structure bridging. acrossthe groove between the corrugations and not entering therein, wherebyengagement of the saidV structure against corrugation sides as they move.toward .and away from each other as the tube is fiexed, is prevented.

8. The combination with a corrugated tube depending for fiexibility uponthe bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward'a'nd away from each other, comprising a helical strip havingedges of adjacent convolutions interfolded and said strip having alongitudinal fold or groove, the said interfolded edges being at'theouter most portion of the wall of the. tube, and an outer tube inclosingthe aforesaid corrugated tube, said outer tube bridging across groovesbetween the corrugations and not entering therein whereby engagement 'ofthe said outer tube against the corrugation sides as they move towardand away from each other as the tube is flexed, is prevented, said outertube comprising a helicalstrip having edges of adjacent convolutionsvsecured together by a joint having clearances permitting relativemovement of the parts within the joint, and coupling terminals securedto the ends of said outer tube.

9. The combination with a .corrugated 'tube depending for flexibilityupon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward and away from eachothe'r, comprising a helical strip havedges of.adjacent convolutions interfolded and said strip having a longitudinalfold or groove, the said interfolded edges being 'at the outer mostportion of the wall of the tube, and an outer tube nclosing theaforesaid corrugated tube,`said outer tube 'tube comprising a helicalstrip having a ,longitudinal groove and having the edges bridging acrossgrooves between the corrugations and not entering therein wherebyengagement of the said outer tube against the corrugation sides as theymove toward and away from each other as the tube is fiexed, isprevented, said outer tube comprising a helical strip having edges ofadjacent ,convolutions secured together by a joint having clearancespermitting relative movement of the parts within the joint.

l1. The combination with a corrugated tube depending for flexibilityupon the bending of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to movetoward and away from each other, of a flexible outer tube inclosing thesaid corrugated tube and compris-H ing a helical strip having the edgesof adjacent convolutions joined together with clearance's permittingrelative movement of the parts in the joint, the said outer tubebridging across the groove between corrugations and not enteringtherein,twhereby engagement of the said outer tube against thecorrugation sides' as they move toward' and away from each other as thetube is fiexed, is prevented, and coupling' terminals secured to theends of said tubes, the said terminals being assembled with said tubeswhile the outer tube is in extended position and the inner tube dition.

- 12. The combination with a corrugated of adjacent convolutionsinterfolded, the tube depending for flexibility upon the bending of themetal to permit the corrugation sides to move toward and away from eachother, of means for preventing twisting of the said tube wherebytendency to cause slidingof the edges of adjacent convolutions in thejoint is overcome.

13. The combination with a corrugated tube comprising a helical striphaving a longitudinal groove and having the edges of adjacentconvolutions interfolded, the tube depending for fiexibility upon thebending Of the metal to permit the corrugation sides to move toward andaway from each other, of flexible means for preventing twisting of thetube whereby fiexure of the tube is permitted, but tendency to causesliding in the joint between adjacent -ed'ges` of convolutions isovercome.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 9th day ofSeptember,

LOUIS H. BRINKMAN.

i s in compressed con-

